Slicing machine



Dec. 12, 1933.. c. LITTLEFIELD SLICING MACHINE Filed Sept. 50, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V5 N T 0/6 cm Lmzfleld Patented Dec. 12,1933

suomo Carl Littlefield, can.

PATENT oFFIcE MACHINE Creek, Mich, assignor to BattleCreek Bread Wrapping Machine Company, Battle Creek Mich.

Application September so, 1929, Serial No. 396,033

.16- Claims.

\ My present improvements relate to slicing machines especially adapted for the slicing of fresh bread and the like of the type illustrated in my copending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 393,339, filed September 18, 1929. The structure of this application is an embodiment of and in some respects an improvement upon certain features of that application.

The main objects of this invention are: First, to provide in a slicing machine improved means for feeding bread or other articles to be sliced which is very simple in its parts and one in which there are no reciprocating parts.

Second, to provide a slicing machine which is of large capacity, the articles to be sliced such as softbread being uniformly advanced through the machine and firmly supported while the slicmg blades are operating thereon and the sliced loaves being discharged as a unit. m Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my improvements will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features'of my improvements is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a' perspective view of my improved slicing machine, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration and certain parts being shown conventionally.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, parts being omitted and others sectioned for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in trans- 3 verse section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view partially in longitudinal section on line 4-4 of Fig.2.

The machine illustrated is especially designed 4.0 for slicing bread, but it will be understood that the machine may be readily adapted for slicing other articles. I

Theframe, desig ted generally by the numeral 1, is of such haracter as to support the various parts but as its structural features form no part of this invention they are not described herein. g

The slicing table 2 is provided with a plurality of slots 3 adapted to receive the sets of slicing blades 4 which are arrangedin crossed relation with their crossing points above the plane of the table. The details of the mounting and driving of these slicing blades are not illustrated, but I preferably employ the blades and the driving means illustrated in my said copending application.

At the rear of the slicing table and in the plane thereof I mount a delivery table'5 to which the sliced articles are delivered from the slicing means.

The loaves of bread or other articles to be sliced are fed to the slicing means in a continuous stream or in juxtaposed relation, the loaves being fed to the slicing blades by pressure of the succeeding loaves. The result is that the loaves while acted upon by theslicing blades are very firmly supported. At the same time they are not crushed and are not subject to sudden impacts as might be the case where the loaves are advanced one by one as by means of a plunger. The speed of travel of the loaves through the machine is uniform.

The feed means comprises a'bottom conveyor belt 6 which is disposed with its upper reach in the plane of theslicing table so that the loaves aredelivered from this belt on to the slicing table. The bridge or pick-up fingers '7 project forwardly from the slicing table at each side of the bottom conveyor belt 6, see Fig. 2. The belt 6 is supported by pulleys 8 and 9, the shaft 10 of the 'pulley 9 being a driven shaft The driving connections are not described as suitable driving connections would be readily understood by those skilled in the art. a

At the slicing table end of the feed belt ,6 I provide side belts 11 supported by. the pulleys 12 and 13. The pulley 13 is driven from thezshaft. 10 through the beveled gears 14 and 15. Fig."

3. With this arrangement the side belts are driveiiI 3 at the same speed as the bottom belt. The reaches of the side belts are supported by a series of rollers 16. r f g The ,forward end of the bottom belt 6 extends a substantial distance beyond the forward ends of the side belts to permit the loaves tobe sliced being arranged thereon between the guide bars 17. With this arrangement the loaves maybe placed upon the bottom belt between "these guide bars and they are carried along by. the conveyor and delivered to the slicing table. There is sufficient space between the slicing blades and the end of the conveyor belt so that the articles to be sliced are not delivered directly from the con-. veyor into the slicing means, but are moved across the slicing table by the pressure of the succeeding loaf and are carried through the slicing blades by this pressure.

The slicing table is provided with guides 18 at the front of the knife so that the'irticles to be sliced are advanced uniformly to the slicing vided to receive the sliced loaves. These holders are disposed in spaced parallel relation at the rear of the blades so that the sliced loaves are delivered between these holders as units. The holder 20 extends rearwardly beyond the holder 19 for convenience in manipulation of the loaves. One of the sliced loaves is indicated at 21 with one end supported by the projecting end of the holder 20. These holders are mounted for adjustment by means of the screw 22.

The delivery table is provided with a plurality of holes 23 at its forward edges so that the crumbs resulting from the slicing may be discharged from the delivery table through these holes into a chute 24 by which they are directed to a receptacle 25. This prevents the delivery table becoming clogged with the debris and also minimines the amount of debris that is transferred to the package.

As the loaves are carried through the slic blades they are supported by the holder 26 having a plurality of fingers 27 extending between the blades. This holder is pivotally supported at 28 and provided with a counterbalance 29. A guard screen 30 is mounted on the holder to guard the operator from the knives.

My improved slicing machine is of very large capacity. The loaves or other articles to be sliced may be fed in a continuous stream through the slicing means and at uniform speed, the loaf subject to the action of the blades being advanced and supported by succeeding loaves and also serving to advance the receding sliced loaf so that it is very firmly supported without being subjected to undue pressure.

In the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated only such portions of my improved, slicing machine as are more directly concerned with my present improvements. I have not attempted to illustrate certain modifications and adaptations which I contemplate or which might be desirable,

. to adapt the same to particular uses, as it is beabove the plane of the table, conveyor means for feeding a series articles to be sliced to said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, said slicing table being provided with forwardly projecting fingers disposed at the sides of said conveyor belt, side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, supporting rollers for the inner reaches of said side conveyor belts, guide plates disposed at the in crossed relation through said slots in said slicing table with their crossing points substantially above the plane of the table, conveyor means for feeding a series of articles to be sliced to said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide t e articles to said blades, and spaced supports 0 said delivery table to which the articles are delivered from said blades.

3. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slotted slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, sets of blades mounted to reciprocate in crossed relation through said slots in said slicing table with their crossing points substantially above the plane of the table, conveyor means for feeding a series of articles to be sliced to said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed withits upper reach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, and supporting rollers for the inner reaches of said side conveyor belts.

4. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slotted slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, sets of blades mounted to reciprocate'in crossed relation through said slots in said slicing table with their crossing points substantially above the plane of the table, conveyor means for feeding a series of articles to be sliced to said blades comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reaoh in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, and side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, said belts being associated with said slicing table so that the articles are fed across the slicing table and to the blades in supporting feeding contact with the article acted upon by the blades supported and advanced by the pressure of the succeeding articles advanced by the conveyor belts;

5. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of saidslicing table and in the plane thereof, a plurality of slicing blades, conveyor'means for feeding a series of articles to be sliced to said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, said'slicing table being provided with forwardly projecting fingers disposed at the sides of said conveyor belt, side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the articles to said blades, and spaced supports on said deli ry table to which the articles are delivered f said blades.

6. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, a plurality of slicing blades, conveyor means for feeding a series of articles to be sliced to said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt, guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the articles to said blades, and spaced supports on said delivery table to which the articles are delivered from said blades.

7. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, a plurality of slicing blades, conveyor means for feeding a series of articles to be slicedto said blades in juxtaposed position comprising a bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upperreach in the plane of said slicing table and delivering thereto, said slicing table being provided with forwardly projecting fingers disposed at the sides of said conveyor belt, and side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of said bottom conveyor belt.

8. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slotted slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, sets of blades mounted to reciprocate in crossed relation through said slots in said slicing table with their crossing points substantially above the plane of the table, and means for feeding a plurality of articles to be sliced in juxta-'-- position to said blades, the articles, being advanced by frictional engagement with said means and through the blades by pressure from the succeeding articles l 9. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slotted slicing table, a delivery table-disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, sets of blades mounted to reciprocate in crossed relation through said slots in said slicing table with their crossing points substantially above the plane of the table, and-conveyor means having frictional engagement with the articles to be fed for feeding at-a uniform rate a series of articles to be sliced to said blades in supporting abutting relation so that the article acted upon by the knives is advanced by the pressure of the succeeding articles thereon.

10. In a-slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a plurality of slicing blades operatively associated with said table, a receiving table disposed at the rear of said'slicing table, means for feeding the articles to'said blades and on to said receiving table, a pivotally mounted holder provided "with fingers adapted to pass between said blades and to engage the top of the article to be sliced, and a guard carried by said holder and. movable therewith.

'11. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a delivery table disposed in the plane of said slicing table, a slicing means, means for feeding articles to said slicing means, and a pair of holders disposed in opposed parallel relation to receive the sliced articles between them;

the rear end of one of said holders being extended substantially beyond the other.

12. In a slicing machine, the combination of' a slicing table, a deliverytabl'e disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, a plurality of slicing blades disposed through slots in said slicing table and facing in the direction of feed of the articles to be sliced, a slip-frictional conveyor means for feeding the articles to be sliced against the cutting edges of the blades and so that an article in slicing position is con-' tacted and supported and advanced against the blades by a succeeding article to be sliced, said feed means comprising a continuously driven bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upp reach in the plane of the slicing table and delivering thereto, continuously driven side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of and in coacting relation to said bottom conveyor belt, v n belts having slip frictional engagement with the articles to be advanced thereby and so that a series of articles is successively advanced across the slicing table and to the blades by' said conveyor means, and guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the articles therefrom to said blades and positioned to coact with the ends of the article sliced while it is subject to the action of said blades. a.

13. In a slicing m'achine,-the combination of a slicing table, a deliverytable disposed'at the rear of said slicing table, a'plurality of slicing blades disposed through said slicing table and facing the direction of feed of the articles to be sliced, means for feeding the articles to be sliced against the cutting edges of said blades and comprising a continuously driven bottom conveyor belt disposed to deliver to said slicing table and continuously driven side conveyor belts disposed at the sides of and in coactingrelation to said bottom conveyor belt, said conveyor'belts being arranged relative to said slicing table so that an' article in slicing position is contacted and supported and advanced against the blades by the frictional engagement of the bottom and side conveyor belts 0 with a succeeding article or'articles to be sliced and guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the articles therefrom to said blades and positioned to coact with the ends of the article sliced while it is subject to the action ofsaid blades.

- 14. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a delivery table disposed at the rear of said slicing table and in the plane thereof, a plurality of slicing blades disposed through slotsin said slicing tableand facing in the direction of feed of the articles to be sliced, a slip fric. tional conveyor means for feeding the articles to be sliced against the cutting edges of the blades and so that an article in slicing position is com tacted and supported and advanced against the blades by a succeeding article to be sliced, said feed means comprising a continuously driven bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane of the slicing table and delivering thereto, continuously driven side conveyor belts disposed at the side of and in coacting relation to said bottom conveyor belt, said belts having slip frictional engagement with the. articles to be sliced ade va'nced thereby and so that a series of articles is successively advanced across the slicing table and to the blades by said conveyor means, guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the 8-1121016$ t0 said blades, and spaced supports on said delivery table to which the articles are delivered from said blades by the thrust of the succeeding articles advanced by said conveyor means.

15. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a plurality of slicing blades opera-1135 tively associated with said slicing table and facing. in the direction of feed of the articles to be sliced, a slip frictional conveyor means for feeding the articleslto be sliced against the cutting edges of the blades and so thatan'article in slicing position is contacted and supported and advanced against the blades by a succeeding article to be delivering thereto, continuously driven side concles to be advanced thereby and so'that a series'150 of articles is successively advanced across the slicing table and to the blades by said conveyor means, and guide plates disposed at the ends of said side conveyor belts to guide the articles therefrom to said blades and positioned to coact with the ends of the article sliced while it is subject to the action of said blades 16. In a slicing machine, the combination of a slicing table, a plurality of slicing blades opera-.

tively associated with said slicing table and facing in the direction oi.v feed of the articles to be sliced, a slip frictional conveyor means for feeding the articles to be sliced against the cutting edges of the blades and so that an article in slicing I position is contacted and supported and advanced against'the blades by a succeeding article to be sliced, said feed means comprising a continuously driven bottom conveyor belt disposed with its upper reach in the plane or the slicing table and delivering thereto, continuously driven side conveyor belts disposed at the side of and in coacting relation to said bottom conveyor belt, said belts having slip frictional engagement with the articles to be advanced thereby and so that a series articles are delivered by the thrust of succeeding articles advanced by saidconveyormeans.

CARL LIT'I'IEFIEID. 

